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Olivia Greenway, travel journalist and copywriter

As a woman, should you avoid visiting India?

April 2, 2013
By olivia

A survey* out yesterday appears to indicate that 35% fewer women have visited India this year compared to the first three months last year. Although part of the reason could be attributed to the economic downturn, it is felt that recent high profile security issues, starting with the rape in Delhi in December last year, has persuaded many women not to go to India.

 

This makes disappointing reading. I have been to India over 20 times since 2005 and I have never had a problem. In fact, quite the opposite. I feel so comfortable when I go there, it feels like home. The colours, the smells, the food; India makes me feel good to be alive. It’s exciting or it’s tranquil — whatever you want it to be.

 

I have travelled extensively worldwide, but it is India that calls me back, time after time. It’s not perfect: the cities are dirty, the traffic drives me crazy, they don’t know how to be on time for an interview, and they can’t take criticism, but Indian people are among the friendliest and kindest I’ve found anywhere.

 

India has its problems and I am not suggesting that brutal incidents of rape should be brushed off and dismissed, but these are rare occurrences. India has a population of over 1.2 billion people. A small proportion – 6.6 million people – visits every year from overseas. The vast majority of these have a fantastic time. The only complaint I’ve ever heard about is the old ‘Delhi belly’.

 

Women should take sensible precautions, ones that one would take in any country, not just India. I am not a fan of travelling on my own, but this doesn’t preclude me from visiting attractions or doing some sightseeing without my travelling partner conjoined to my hip. Indian women tend to be chaperoned, or go around in friendship or family groups, so I imagine a lone female could attract unwelcome attention, especially at night. It’s quite easy to arrange for a reputable guide to take you around in the evening or you could join a small tour group.

 

India really is incredible: if I decided not to visit countries that had received some negative press, there would be very few places I could go.

 

*A survey of 1,200 tour operators in India has shown that 25% fewer visitors came to India in the first three months of 2013 compared to the previous year, according to the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry India (Assocham). Whilst some of this may be due to the economic downturn, the Association claims that 35% fewer female tourists are now visiting India.

Categories : Asia, India, Travel
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Trips 2018/2019

2019

January: Zanzibar

March: Cape Town & Pretoria

May: Slovenia

October: South Africa (tbc)

November: Kenya (tbc)

 

Trips 2018

March:  New York, including Frick Gallery

May:  Vietnam including Halong Bay

June:  Giverny and Monet’s garden

June:  Majorca

December: Hyderabad and Chandigarh, India

Trips 2017

January: Johannesburg, Pretoria, Swaziland, Mozambique, Zimbabwe
February: Bangalore
April: Lake District
May: Malaga
September: Mexico, Cancun
November: Delhi, Agra, Shimla
December: Berlin, Prague, Budapest, Venice

Trips 2016 (not clickable)

January: Oxford, Tenerife
February: Hampshire
March: Manchester
April: Sicily, Germany
October: Bangalore, New Delhi
November: Bangalore, New Delhi
December: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

List of trips 2015 (not clickable)

January: European ski resorts; Milan
February: Germany, Austria, Switzerland
March: Istanbul, Jersey, Vienna, Prague, Budapest
April: Road trip Ireland
May: Road trip France, Germany, Benelux and Copenhagen
June: UK luxury hotels
December: Cannes

List of trips 2014 (not clickable)

January Weimar, Vienna
February - Berlin, London
April - Chicago, Toronto, Montreal
May/June - Driving trip, Spain
July – Majorca
July - Paris
August - Southern UK
September – Northern Italy including Venice
October - South of France
October/November - Germany, Austria and Switzerland
December - Cape Town, Durban, driving along Garden Route South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda

List of trips 2013 (not clickable)

  • January - Tenerife
  • March - Istanbul
  • April - Italy luxury hotels - mid and southern Italy including Sicily
  • June - Las Vegas
  • June - Massive west coast road trip - Vancouver, BC
  • June - Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Napa Valley, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, San Diego
  • September - Washington DC, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia
  • September - Carolinas, Georgia, northern Florida (Talahassee area)
  • September - New Orleans, Orlando, Miami; Vancouver
  • October - Puglia, Italy and Milan

List of trips 2012

  • January - Hawaii, USA
  • February - France - Le Touquet, Lens, Lille
  • March - Nelamangala, India
  • July - Milan, Italy
  • August - Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • August - Iguazu Falls, Brazil
  • August - Montevideo, Uruguay
  • September - Delhi, India
  • November - Dubai, UAE

List of trips 2011

  • January - Madeira, Portugal
  • February - Bangalore, India
  • April - British Virgin Islands, Caribbean
  • May - Sicily, Italy
  • May - San Francisco, USA
  • June - Bangalore and New Delhi, India
  • July - Prague, Czech Republic
  • July - Munich, Germany
  • July - Washington DC, USA
  • August - Lake District, UK
  • September - La Grande-Motte, France
  • Annapolis, USA
  • October - Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • December - Helsinki, Finland
  • December - St Petersburg, Russia

List of trips 2010

  • February - India - Kerala & Chennai
  • March - Manchester & the North West
  • March - Austria
  • April - Czech Republic
  • May - Lake District
  • June - Cologne
  • July - India - Bangalore and Delhi
  • August - Eastern Cape & KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
  • September - Grasse, south of France
  • September - Wick, Scotland
  • October - Utah, USA
  • December - Montreal, Canada
  • December - Madeira, Portugal
Olivia Greenway, travel journalist and copywriter
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